Simple RAW thread for 3.5 #31. By now, your question has probably been answered.

[ManicOppressive]

A 485

Yes.

The interesting question by RAW is whether it would need to have 1,000 gp of value for every HD of all of the creatures in it, or just the highest HD, though by my interpretation it would be the former.

[Flame of Anor]

Q 486

What's that spell or item where you can save your XP total and come back to it later?

[Debatra]

A 486 Thought Bottle. Complete Arcane, page 150.

A bit of a non-RAW note though, it's usually on the shortlist of things to ban in actual games.

[samduke]

Q 487
Cleric Turn & Rebuke Undead and the Rebuke Dragons ACF, combo with holy symbol (MICp120)
the question is the holy symbol states that it grants additional turn uses with turn OR rebuke undead.
IF turn undead is it's own ability, and rebuke is it's own ability, and rebuke dragons is it's own abilty, Would the holy symbol grant additional uses per each separate ability, OR only uses to just 1 ability?

[dehydrogenaza]

Q 488
What skill checks (DCs), if any, are involved in mounting and riding/flying a summoned creature, such as a Dire Bat or a Hippogriff? The summons are not trained. SRD: "Typical riding actions don’t require checks. You can saddle, mount, ride, and dismount from a mount without a problem." Does it apply to wild creatures?

[Sian]

A488:

Control mount in battle, Ride DC20 (adding an additional +5DC to the Hippogriff as per the rules discussed for using Handle Animal on non-animals), would probably be a good place to start.

[justiceforall]

Q 489

Can an assassin make a death attack with a ranged attack using a thrown weapon such as a dagger, since that is a "melee weapon"?

Q 490

Does the wording on thunderous throw (bloodstorm blade) allow a user to make sneak attacks at any range?

[Andezzar]

A 489

No, the type of weapon depends on its use. If you throw a weapon, it is a thrown weapon, if you use both hands, it is a two-handed weapon.

A 490

Yes, Thunderous Throws allows you to treat all your ranged attacks as melee attacks. However the visible signs of that ability may make it harder for the attack to qualify as sneak attack.

Also it still would not work with a Death Attack, as this is dependent on the type of weapon, not the type of attack.

[justiceforall]

A 489 - follow up

No, the type of weapon depends on its use. If you throw a weapon, it is a thrown weapon, if you use both hands, it is a two-handed weapon.

Sure, but it is also still a melee weapon isn't it?

SRD:

Melee and Ranged Weapons

Melee weapons are used for making melee attacks, though some of them can be thrown as well. Ranged weapons are thrown weapons or projectile weapons that are not effective in melee.

and from the table

Light Melee Weapons
Dagger

A 490 - Clarification request

Also it still would not work with a Death Attack, as this is dependent on the type of weapon, not the type of attack.

Not what I asked, but doesn't this disagree with your statement about weapon use? If its treated as a melee attack, isn't it now also a melee weapon?

Regardless, for my own clarity - the wording gets around the 30ft limitation on ranged sneak attacks since it says you treat the ranged attacks as melee? I could throw an axe 50ft and still have it qualify if I satisfied the other conditions (opponent is flat footed, no concealment, etc)?

However the visible signs of that ability may make it harder for the attack to qualify as sneak attack.

I don't understand this? Are you referring to the descriptive text for Thunderous Throw about heat waves and such? Does that make any difference since the ability doesn't state any mechanical effects of the ability?

Q 491

Does acquiring "Lightning Ricochet" (Bloodstorm Blade) remove the requirement of Returning Attacks gained at the 1st level of the prestige to expend a maneuver to gain the Returning ability?

[Andezzar]

A 489 Follow Up

When you throw a weapon it is a thrown weapon, when you attack with it in melee it is a melee weapon. That applies to all weapons whether they are designed for this use or not. Thunderous throw only changes how the attacks are processed not what weapon is used.

When a medium creature uses a large short sword it is a one-handed weapon, it is not also a light weapon, so besides the -2 to the attack the medium wielder cannot use weapon finesse. I don't see why a thrown dagger should still be a melee weapon.

A 490 Clarification

Since thunderous blow only modifies the attack and not the weapon it is still a thrown weapon.

Yes, the limitation to 30 ft range is ignored when your ranged attack is treated as a melee attack since there is no maximum range for a melee sneak attack.

Yes, I was talking about that part of the rules text (the books make no distinction what part a rule is an what part "only" description) and since the rules don't give a mechanical effect of that visible emanation it is up to the DM to decide if and how it counteracts your ability to qualify for a sneak attack.

A 491

Yes, the expenditure of maneuvers only applies to the returning attacks ability, not the lightning ricochet ability.

[Aegis013]

Q 492
Can the thunderlance spell be used to make nonlethal attacks?

[Debatra]

(the books make no distinction what part a rule is an what part "only" description)

A very common misconception. There actually is clarification that some parts of the books are just flavor text.

[Andezzar]

A very common misconception. There actually is clarification that some parts of the books are just flavor text.

Please show me that clarification.

Still the first sentence of the Thunderous Throw description gives no indication that it is flavor text. Other sections like the text in italics in the maneuver descriptions are at least separated from the rules and formatted differently.

[justiceforall]

Q 493

If my character is a Bloodstorm Blade using Thunderous Throw (Lightning Ricochet), a javelin, and has the Tormtor School feat, would that feat trigger every time my character successfully hits something, allowing another ranged attack that is functionally a melee attack? (obviously you could only do it once a round, since its a swift action)

[XgayzeX]

Q 494

How does one begin to start a beholder as a pc?

[Andezzar]

A 493

Only if you somehow have more than one swift action. Thunderous throw already requires your swift action, you don't have one for the tormtor school left.

[KillianHawkeye]

Q 494

How does one begin to start a beholder as a pc?

A 494

Making sure your DM is okay with high level monster PCs seems like the logical first step.

[Andezzar]

A 494

Making sure your DM is okay with high level monster PCs seems like the logical first step.

I think inthis thread it is more about getting around the LA: - of the beholder.

[Troacctid]

Q 494

How does one begin to start a beholder as a pc?

One does not.

Q 492
Can the thunderlance spell be used to make nonlethal attacks?

Only if you apply the Nonlethal Substitution metamagic feat to it or are participating in a specially sanctioned nonlethal spell duel.

[samduke]

RE Post #964
Hey guys think I can get an answer to this one - Please.
Q 487
Cleric Turn & Rebuke Undead and the Rebuke Dragons ACF, combo with holy symbol (MICp120)
the question is the holy symbol states that it grants additional turn uses with turn OR rebuke undead.
IF turn undead is it's own ability, and rebuke is it's own ability, and rebuke dragons is it's own abilty, Would the holy symbol grant additional uses per each separate ability, OR only uses to just 1 ability?

[Aegis013]

Only if you apply the Nonlethal Substitution metamagic feat to it or are participating in a specially sanctioned nonlethal spell duel.

The metamagic won't work on Force descriptor spells. Can you tell me where to find the rules on sanctioned spell duels?

Thank you for your answer!

[KillianHawkeye]

Can you tell me where to find the rules on sanctioned spell duels?

The rules for formal spell duels are in Complete Arcane beginning on page 175.

[Zsaber0]

Q 495
If a Shadowcraft Mage uses silent image to make a ladder, can he climb it since it's quasi-real with material from the shadow plane?

[AlanBruce]

Q.496

If a medium sized winged and airborne creature is in melee with another Large sized airborne creature and drops to the negatives, having natural flight would it fall to the ground and take appropriate damage?

Would the Large attacker who dropped said medium winged and airborne creature in melee benefit from an AoO as it falls down due to reach?

[Debatra]

A 495

Yes, if he intentionally failed his Will save.

A 496

Yes and yes. Although the relative sizes of the two are irrelevant beyond the point where the attacker has threatened squares.

[kkplx]

Stealth questions from the perspective of a monster in combat:

Q 497
"Listen cannot be used in any useful way to pinpoint or even approximately locate a hiding PC. All it does if you beat their move silently, is reveal their presence in the battle." Correct?

Q 498
"As long as you start and end your turn in concealment, you can remain hidden with a hide check." Correct?

Q 499
Do the penalties listed in the SRD About hide stack? (e.g. a character moving at both maximum speed and attacking would take a -20 or a -40 to hide?)

[kkplx]

Q 500

If a creature is invisible, by spell or natural ability, but not "hiding" as in using the skill to hide and moving slower etc, wouldn't that mean that everyone in the area can pinpoint the location of the invisible creature, as it is not "hiding"?

[Synar]

Q 501 :
Break enchantment reads : "This spell frees victims from enchantments, transmutations, and curses. Break enchantment can reverse even an instantaneous effect. For each such effect, you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level, maximum +15) against a DC of 11 + caster level of the effect."
I am confused at to what "each such effect" means.
Should the caster make checks against every effects or only against instantaneous effects (with the other ones being automatically dispelled)?

[KillianHawkeye]

Stealth questions from the perspective of a monster in combat:

Q 497
"Listen cannot be used in any useful way to pinpoint or even approximately locate a hiding PC. All it does if you beat their move silently, is reveal their presence in the battle." Correct?

A 497 Incorrect.

If you can beat an opponent's Move Silently check by 20 (or more), you can pinpoint which square they are in.

Q 498
"As long as you start and end your turn in concealment, you can remain hidden with a hide check." Correct?

A 498

Yes, but you must use the rules for moving between cover (Complete Adventurer). It requires 5 ranks in the skill for every 5 feet you need to move in the open, and you take a -5 penalty per 5 feet as well. That means if you need to cross a 10 foot hallway you can make a Hide check at -10, but only if you have at least 10 ranks in Hide.

Q 499
Do the penalties listed in the SRD About hide stack? (e.g. a character moving at both maximum speed and attacking would take a -20 or a -40 to hide?)

A 499

Those particular penalties do not stack, but you must make a Hide check for each action that would otherwise reveal you. So if you move your full movement speed, you make one check (the penalty is only -5 btw, unless charging or running). Then, if you are still hidden, you can attack and make another check (this time at -20) to remain hidden afterwards.

Q 500

If a creature is invisible, by spell or natural ability, but not "hiding" as in using the skill to hide and moving slower etc, wouldn't that mean that everyone in the area can pinpoint the location of the invisible creature, as it is not "hiding"?

A 500

No, even without using the Hide skill, observers must succeed on a DC 20 Spot check to notice an active, invisible creature. A creature trying to hold still is DC 30. A completely immobilized creature, a nonliving creature trying to hold still, or an inanimate object is DC 40.

As with the Listen skill, beating any of these DCs by 20 (or more) will allow you to pinpoint the invisible creature's or object's precise location.

Note: This is ignoring the situation where an invisible creature is deliberately trying to get noticed. It isn't RAW, but it should be a lot easier under those circumstances (I probably wouldn't make it automatic, though).

[kkplx]

Q 501

Invisibility cites different values (20, 30, 40) for the spot DC to notice them (+20 each to pinpoint), and my question is regarding the first value:
"A creature can generally notice the presence of an "active" invisible creature within 30 feet with a DC 20 Spot check."

Is it fair to assume that invisibility only ever applies this 20 for a creature in combat that does anything at all that isn't standing still in a spot (30)?
In that case, would the total Spot DC for a creature moving while invisible be 20-5=15? And for one that casts a spell 20-20=0? (Assuming no other hide modifiers in place)